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Periods of Exclusion - Childhood Diseases

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Some childhood diseases are contagious, and children with them should remain at home under certain conditions. Learn more about periods of exclusion.

If you suspect that your child has a communicable disease that might spread to others

  • Keep your child at home and away from others
  • Contact your family doctor for a diagnosis
  • Your doctor will advise you about care and treatment when a communicable disease is diagnosed.

List of communicable diseases

Children with the following diseases should remain at home and away from others.

Chickenpox (Varicella)

  • It is recommended that individuals who have chickenpox stay home until they are feeling well and it has been five days since the start of their rash or until lesions have crusted over, whichever comes first.

Fifth's Disease (Parvovirus)

  • No exclusion
  • Children with Fifth's disease do not need to remain at home if they are feeling well enough to take part in activities and do not have a fever

Gastroenteritis (diarrhea/vomiting)

  • Gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea) can be an indication of both enteric and other illnesses, including COVID-19. If no specific pathogen is identified, children and staff with new or worsening symptoms of gastroenteritis must remain at home until free of vomiting and diarrhea for at least 48 hours.

Hand, foot and mouth (HFM) Disease

  • No exclusion
  • Children with HFM do not need to remain at home if they are feeling well enough to take part in activities and do not have a fever. However, it is recommended that children with excessive drooling due to mouth sores and/or open blisters on their body should remain at home until symptoms resolve.

Impetigo

  • Until the antibiotic prescribed by a doctor has been taken for at least 24 hours and they feel well enough to participate

Measles (Rubeola)

  • For at least 4 days after the rash begins

Mumps

  • For at least 5 days after the swollen glands first appear

Pink-eye, bacterial (conjunctivitis)                 

  • Until the antibiotic prescribed by a doctor has been taken for at least 24 hours

Ringworm

  • Until first treatment has been started

Rubella (German measles)

  • Until at least 7 days after the rash first appears

Scabies

  • Until after the first treatment

Scarlet fever

  • Until antibiotic prescribed by a doctor has been taken for at least 24 hours and they feel well enough to participate in activities

Strep throat

  • Until antibiotic prescribed by a doctor has been taken for at least 24 hours and they feel well enough to participate in activities

Whooping cough (Pertussis)

  • Exclude until 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment received or for 3 weeks from onset of illness, if not treated

Source: Canadian Paediatric Society

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